Borden family appeals to Council

The family of James L. Borden Sr. asked the Monroe County Council Tuesday to work to ban taser guns or at least review the police force's use of them. While the family is still seeking answers in Borden's death, its current focus is the future safety of the community. \nJames L. Borden died at the Monroe County jail Nov. 6, 2003 after receiving multiple shocks from a taser gun. The family has thus far visited the Bloomington City Council, the Monroe County Justice Coordinating Council and has now approached the Monroe County Council in an effort to make changes. The Borden family and concerned Bloomington residents used the public comment and question period to voice their concerns.\n"Tasers aren't good," said Troy Borden, James Borden's younger brother. "Tasers have cost our family a member. Tasers need to be put away until we look into it. They need to be put on a shelf. This is March, and we're still waiting to find out what happened."\nBut Borden also noted the problem might not be the taser guns but the hands using them.\n"We've either got to fix the tasers or the people," he said.\nBorden also noted that the use of taser guns and taser-gun related lawsuits wasn't unique to Bloomington.\nBorden cited two other recent taser-related lawsuits -- one in Indianapolis and one in South Bend. \n"Was it the taser or the person who used the taser?" Borden asked. "Something has to be done, and this council has the power to do it."\nModerator County Council member Sue West thanked Troy Borden for his comments, although the Council didn't respond to the comments. \nBloomington resident Ray Jordan questioned if the tasers were being used properly by the police. "It seems odd to me that they took him off-camera to taser him," Jordan said, referring to a video made at the Monroe Co. jail, which was released March 5. "Was this to teach him a lesson? I want you to take a look at what's going on in Monroe County. Someone needs to step up."\nTroy Borden suggested, in wake of the Council's extended discussion of proposed tax abatement, that the Council look at the banning or revision of use of taser guns as a financial issue. \n"The taxpayers are carrying the bill," Borden said. "When they budget for a weapon like a taser, they need to look at the liability. Tasers cost $800. With Monroe County, whenever there's an accusation made, they carry the first $25,000 of (damages paid). They need to ask what is this weapon going to cost tomorrow?"\nSteve Borden, James L. Borden's older brother, said while he and the Borden family were frustrated with the changing of hands of responsibility, he wasn't putting the blame on the County Council.\n"The County Council isn't the guilty one. But it's getting to be like playing 'Price is Right.' You keep going to doors and opening them and hoping it's the right one. We just want some answers."\n-- Contact city & state editor Kehla West at krwest@indiana.edu.